Finally, Some Straight Talk on Chinese Loans to Africa

Nigerian Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi speaking with Channels TV political correspondent Seun Okinbaloye.

Seemingly fed up with the past week of overheated controversy in Nigeria over Chinese loans, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi is telling it like it is. People may not like the Chinese, they may not like the terms of Chinese loans and they may not like the debt they’re taking on but at the end of the day Nigeria, and Africa writ large, doesn’t have any other choice.

In an interview with Channels TV yesterday, the minister hit back at his critics. “Where else can you get it?” he asked when challenged by the interviewer as to why Nigeria borrows from China.

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by Eric Olander

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